Tool sharpener



July 30, 1935. J ANDERSON 2,009,389

TOOL SHARPENER Filed June 14, 1934 Hndarsan Patented July 30, 1 935UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFI CE TOOL SHARPENER James Boyd Anderson,Winchester, Ky. Application June-14, 1934, Serial No. 730,670 4 Claims.(oral-205) This invention relates to sharpening tools and moreparticularly to a tool especially designed for sharpening scissors. aThe object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensively andthoroughly efiicient device of this character by meansof which a pair ofscissors, shears, or other implements, which has become dull throughuse, may be readily sharpened by an unskilled person.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sharpening toolincluding a body portion having a holder disposed at an angle theretoandintegral therewith, said holder being adapted to receive a file orstrip of abrasive material so'that when the device is positioned on thescissors or other implement to be sharpened, with the abrading strip orfile in contact with the cutting edge. of the blade and said toolreciprocated' thereon, the desired angle or bevel will be imparted tosaid cutting edge.

A further object of the invention is to extend the abrading strip orblock beyond the opposite ends of the holder so as to facilitatesharpening the entire length of the cutting edge of the blade, andfurther to form the body portion with fingerreceiving seats to permitthe tool to be conveniently grasped and supported when in' use.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve thisclass of devices so as to increase their utility, durability andefficiency.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and inwhich similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in allthe figures of the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a scissors sharpener embodying thepresent invention showing the manner of using the same.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sharpener.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the inventionshowing an adjustable abrasive holder.

Figure 5 is a side elevation.

Figure 6 is a top plan view.

The improved scissors sharpener, forming the subject-matter of thepresent invention, comprises a solid body portion 5 preferablysubstantially rectangular in shape, as shown, and formed of metal,bakelite, or other suitable material. EX- tending from the rear edge ofthe body portion and preferably integral therewith is a holder 6 havinga seating channel I formed therein and adapted to receive a strip orblock of abrasive material, indicated at 8, The holder 6 is preferablyof the same width as the body portion 5 and the open side of the channelI faces the lower fiat bearing surface 9 of the block, as best shown inFigure 3ofthe drawing. The channel I, at

its junction with the body portion 5, forms a transverse shoulder I 0against which the strip of abradingmaterial 8 rests so that the block ofabrading material, when inserted within the holder, extends slightlybelow or beyond the bearvents the cutting blade II of the scissors orshears from contacting with the corner of the abrasive material. Theends of the abrading strip 8 preferablyproject beyond the adjacent endof the holder 6, as indicated at I2,so as. to permit sharpening of theextreme end of the blade, as well as the inner or pivoted end thereof.The abrading strip or block 8 is inserted within the holder from eitherend thereof and is retained Within the holder by a clamping screworsimilar fastening device I3. The rear edge of the body 5 is preferablyinclined or beveled at I l, and this-inclined edge and the opposite sidefaces of the body portion 5 are formed with seats or depressions I5adapted to receive the fingers'of the hand so as to permit the tool tobe conveniently grasped and supported during the sharpening operation.

When sharpening a pair of scissors, said scissors are supported in thelefthand and the body portion of the tool grasped between the fingers ofthe right hand, and positioned on the fiat side of the blade I I, in themanner shown in Figure l of the drawing. By now reciprocating the toolover the surface of the blade, the abrading strip 8 will contact withthe cutting edge and impart the desired angle or bevel thereto andthereby thoroughly sharpen the scissors. As the lower face 9 of the bodyportion is fiat, said face forms a guide for the tool during thereciprocation thereof, and, inasmuch as the opposite ends of theabrading strip 8 project beyond the holder, the inner as well as theouter end of the blade will be sharpened, as previously stated. Theinclination of the holder, with respect to the body portion 5 may be atany angle between 45 and in order to take care of the different makesand grades of shears and scissors and the varying bevels on the cuttingedges thereof and, when reciprocating the tool, the abrading strip willfollow the original bevel of the scissors, as will be readilyunderstood. Should the abrading strip become worn from constant use orotherwise damaged, said strip may be readily replaced by loosening thescrew I3, removing the old strip and inserting a new strip within theholder. In

' ing surface 9 ofthe body portion and thus pre- 2 Figures 4 to 6,inclusive, I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in whichthe holder is adjustable with respect to the body portion so as topermit it to be set at any desired angle or inclination relativethereto.

In this form of the invention the abrasive holderis slotted transverselyto provide spaced resilient fingers l6, and the bodyof the tool isprovided with similar fingers I! which fit between the fingers l6 andthrough which passes apivot pin or bolt l8. Oneend of the bolt !8 isprovided with a tool-receiving kerf or seat 19 while the other endthereof is threaded for engagement with a nut 20 so that, by looseningthe bolt, the holder may be swung the desired position, and whenthe boltis tightened the resilient fingers will i be pressed together and clampthe holder in adjusted posi: tion. The bearing face oi the body, at itsjuno tion with the holder, is cut away to form an in-' clined shoulder2i which permits swinging movemerit of theholder and also serves toprevent the cutting edge of the from contacting with the corner of theabrading strip. l e It will also be understood that the devicemay bemade in different sizes and shapes and plated or otherwise ornamented toimpart an attractive ap pearance thereto.

While the tool s especially designed for sharp: ening scissors andshears, will, of course, be understood that it may be used with equallygood results for sharpeningthe blades of lawn mowers and other cuttingimplements and that, ii desired, a file may beused in the holder insteadof an ahrading strip without departing from the spirit of the invention.2

Having thus described the V i nii I e e m 1. A tool sharpener comprisinga solid substantially rectangular body having a downwardly in: clinedrear face and a flat loweriace, a holder carried by the bod t nd ndownwardly rom.

laterally on its pivot tov tool being sharpened.

the inclined rear face thereof and disposed at an angle to the fiatlower face, said downwardly inclined face and the opposite sides of thebody being formed with finger-receiving depressions, a sharpeningelement seated on the holder, and a clamping screw extending through theholder and engaging the sharpening element.

2. A tool sharpener comprising a body portion having a dependingopen-ended holder provided with a seating channel opening in thedirection of the bottom of the body portion, there being a transverseshoulder formed in the bottom of the body portion at the open side ofthe channel, a sharpening element insertable within the channel fromeither end of the holder and bearing against said shoulder, and aclamping screw extending through the holder and engaging the sharpeningelement, therear wall of the body portion being inclined downwardly inthe direction of the holder and the opposite sides of said body portionbeing provided with finger-receiving recesses.

A tool sharpener comprising a body portion provided with spaced fingers,a holder having resilient fingers fitting between the fingers of thebody portion, a bolt extending through said fingers and farming a pivot,a sharpening element seated the holder, and means engaging the'bolt forclamping the fingers together to hold the holder in a set position.

4, A tool sharpener comprising a body portion having finger-receivingdepressions therein and provided at one edge with spaced fingers, aholder having spaced slotsdefining resilient fingers fitting between thefingers on the body portion, and a clamping bolt extending through thefingers and forming a pivoted connection between the holder and bodyportion, said body portion being provided with a fiat bearing facehaving a cut" away portion defining a shoulder inclined in the directiono'f'sai'd pivot.

ar/ ns BOYD ANDERSON.

